Leak-resistant vaporizer device

ABSTRACT

Vaporizer cartridges and vaporizer apparatuses, and methods for making, using and delivering vapor to a user, that are leak-resistant for use with cannabinoids. In particular, described herein are leak-resistant vaporizer cartridges and apparatuses adapted for use with oil-based vaporizable materials including  cannabis  oils.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/341,579, titled “CONTROL OF AN ELECTRONIC VAPORIZER”,filed on May 25, 2016; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/351,272, titled “ELECTRONIC VAPORIZER DEVICES”, filed on Jun. 16,2016; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/372,216, titled“ZERO-VOLUME STORAGE CONTAINERS FOR VAPORIZER CARTRIDGES”, filed on Aug.8, 2016; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/398,494, titled“VAPORIZER APPARATUSES FOR USE WITH CANNABINOIDS”, filed on Sep. 22,2016; each of these patent application is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specificationare herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the sameextent as if each individual publication or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

FIELD

Described herein are vaporizer apparatuses, including vaporizer orvaporization devices and vaporizer systems, and methods for making,using and delivering vapor to a user. In particular, vaporizerapparatuses adapted for use with oil-based vaporizable materialsincluding cannabis oils.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices that produce an inhalable aerosol (e.g., inhalableaerosol devices or alternatively referred to as vaporizers, vaporizerdevices, vaporization devices, electronic vaping devices, etc.)typically utilize a vaporizable material that is heated to create anaerosol vapor capable of delivering an active ingredient to a user.Vaporizers have been described for vaporizing solids (herbs, tobacco,cannabis, etc.), liquids (extracts, waxes, etc.) and combinations ofboth solids and liquids.

Current market inhalable aerosol devices often consist of a tank orcartridge, vaporizable liquid in the tank or cartridge, an air tube, anda wick/coil subassembly that generates the vapor. Air commonly entersthe cartridge through the distal end of the product and is forcedthrough the heated zone where the immediate air becomes fully saturated.As the vapor continues its way through the air tube, it comes in contactwith cooler surfaces, causing moisture to collect throughout its use.Depending on the complexity of the air path, particle deposition can addto the existing condensation. As a result, some of the liquid can workits way from the tank or cartridge holding the liquid to other areas ofthe vaporizer, including the mouthpiece and/or the electronics, causinguser dissatisfaction and/or problems with the electronic circuitry.

Conventional vaporizers for aqueous (e.g., water, glycerol, etc.) basedvaporizable materials do not manage condensation and leakage of theliquid vaporizable material particularly well, and this problem isparticularly acute for oils such as cannabis extract oils, in which theliquid material may be particularly oily and/or viscous, and for whichevaporation of the liquid material may result in a sticky residue thatmay impair the operation of the vaporizer. Further, vaporization ofcannabis extract liquids may be more technically difficult thanvaporization of other liquids (such as nicotine solutions).

For example, conventional e-cigarettes may address moisture build-up byintegrating a filter pad in line with air flow. However, having a filterpad in line with the air flow can impede or restrict the air flow as theuser draws on the mouthpiece. Moreover, this restriction to drawincrementally climbs as the filter becomes more saturated throughout,often requiring the user to change his or her draw accordingly andincreasing the possibility of drawing liquid of the product and into theuser's mouth.

In addition, the control of the temperature when vaporizing cannabisextracts may require a high degree of precision. Virtually allvaporizers currently available today would benefit from a higher degreeof precision in power management and control of the heater (atomizer).In particular, vaporizers well suited for vaporizing cannabis (e.g.,liquid cannabis extract solutions) may benefit from precise and accuratecontrol of the heater forming the vapor.

It would also be beneficial to provide cartridges that do not roll andmay rest in a small number of secure positions (e.g., cartridges havingnon-circular cross-sections) and to provide an immediate approximate(visual) estimate of the amount of material consumed.

Finally, it would be particularly beneficial to provide pre-loaded andtightly controllable cartridges for use in consuming cannabis extractliquids that prevent or reduce leakage of particularly viscousvaporizable materials such as cannabis oils/extracts.

Accordingly, described herein are vaporizers (including vaporizercartridges) and methods of operating and using them addresses the issuesraised above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In general, described herein are apparatuses such as devices and systemsfor vaporizing a material (including, in particular, but not limited to,cannabis extract liquids) and method of using them. For example,described herein are vaporizers, cartridges for use with suchvaporizers, and vaporizer control systems.

Described herein are vaporizer cartridges that are preloaded (filled)with a cannabis vaporizer material. The vaporizable cannabis material istypically a liquid material, and may be a cannabis extract liquid(cannabis “oil”). Also described herein are vaporizers with or withoutcartridges that are adapted for use with cannabis liquid extracts.Either or both the vaporizer base (which mates with the vaporizercartridge to form the vaporizer device) and vaporizer cartridge may beadapted specifically for use with cannabis liquid extracts, although anyof the apparatuses and methods described herein may be operated withother vaporizable materials, including nicotine solutions and/orsolutions having no active ingredient at all (e.g., just including acarrier such as polyether compounds like polyethylene glycol and/orglycerol, or the like, and flavorants).

For example, a cartridge as described herein may include a vaporizablematerial such as cannabis oil. Cannabis oils present particularchallenges when vaporized using a cartridge and/or a handheld vaporizerdevice. For example, cannabis oil is relatively “sticky” and may beviscous, particularly once it dries out. Thus, leakage may be a moreserious consideration and challenge compared to other aqueousvaporizable materials. In particular, leakage of cannabis oil may resultin clogging of the device and disturbing the electrical components,particularly the electrical contacts, which may be otherwise “gummed up”by leaked oil. The dried oil is not only sticky, but may also beelectrically insulative, and may disrupt the electrical control of thevaporizer. Described herein are apparatuses and methods to prevent orcontrol leakage and to avoid disruption of electrical contacts betweencartridges containing the cannabis extract and the rest of thevaporizer.

For example, the apparatuses described herein may include one or moreelectrical contacts (e.g., between the cartridge and the vaporizer base)referred to herein as wiping or scraping contacts. These electricalconnections may be configured so that as a connection/contact is madebetween two electrically conductive surfaces, the contact (e.g., on thecartridge and/or the vaporizer base) scrapes the mating surface of theother contact to remove any vaporizable material, including vaporizablematerial that has dried on the contact. For example, a contact mayinclude a canister with one or more extensions (e.g., wipers, knives,fingers, or scrapers) that are driven against and across the matingsurface of the opposite electrical contact to scrape away any leakedvaporizable material (including dried-on material). The complimentaryelectrical contact may be a pin (including a pogo-pin) electricallyconductive connector that is scraped as it enters into the canister bythe wiper/scraper(s) therein. Thus, in general, the electrical contactin the vaporizer base may be configured to scrape across and against thecorresponding electrical contact surface in the vaporizer cartridgeand/or the electrical contact in the vaporizer cartridge may beconfigured to scrape across and against the corresponding electricalcontact surface in the vaporizer base to remove contaminating material.Thus either contact may include a scraping projection (e.g., edge,blade, wire, etc.) that is driven across the opposite surface. Typicallytwo or more contacts are included in the vaporizer cartridge, and eachof them may be configured as a scraping or wiping contact. In somevariations, it may be desirable to have the scrapers on the connectorsof the cartridge, although the scrapers may be present on the vaporizerbase instead or in addition.

Any of the cartridges described herein may include a tank or storageregion within the cartridge and/or forming a portion of the body of thecartridge. In particular, all or a portion of the cartridge (includingthe tank) may be clear, transparent and/or translucent so that the levelof vaporizable material within the tank can be seen by a user. The tankmay be prefilled or fillable. The tank may be sealed closed at the top(near the mouthpiece, which may cover the top of the cartridge). Themouthpiece may be plastic and may be secured over the tank by a snapfit, a friction fit, and adhesive, or the like. For example, the distalend of the elongate and flattened tubular body is configured to besecured by a friction fit within a vaporizer body. As described ingreater detail herein, one or more absorbent members, (e.g., sponges,pads, felts, etc.) may be included in the mouthpiece between the tankand the mouthpiece, to prevent leakage of vaporizable material fromcontacting the portion of the mouthpiece where the user applies her orhis lips. The tank may be sealed, e.g., by a tank seal that covers theone or more openings for filling the tank. In some variations, ratherthan one or more small plugs (which may be difficult to install) thetank may be sealed by a multi-seal component (e.g., a single piece) thatseals between the mouthpiece and the top of the tank as and closes offtwo or more openings into the tank.

During inhalation through the apparatus, the user may draw on themouthpiece (by inhaling/sucking on the mouthpiece) to draw air throughthe mouthpiece. The device may be turned on by one or more of: a controlon the device (e.g., on an outer surface of the device), but installingthe cartridge into the vaporizer base, detecting inhalation, detectinglip contact with the mouthpiece. In some variations, the device isturned on, and the heater rises to an initial set temperature, when thedevice is in a ready to turn on state and when the user draws on themouthpiece. The vaporizer may be placed in a ready to turn on state byconnecting (or detecting connection of) a cartridge and/or by a switchor control on the outside of the apparatus and/or by the battery levelbeing sufficient to operate the device.

Once the device is turned on, it may be operated by drawing on themouthpiece to cause the temperature to cause the vaporizer heater (theatomizer) to heat to the desired temperature setting (which may bepreset, selected from a plurality of pre-set temperatures or may be userselectable, including using a computer or other device having aprocessor and user interface that communicates with the device, eitherwirelessly or via a wired connection, such as a smartphone wirelesslycommunicating with the device).

Drawing on the mouthpiece typically causes airflow to enter thecartridge receiver region of the vaporizer base through one or more(e.g., two) air openings that are positioned through the wall of thecartridge receiver near a base of the cartridge receiver. Air may passinto the cartridge receiver and up through the cartridge via one or moreopenings in the base (bottom) of the cartridge. The air may then passinto a heater connector region that also includes one or more (e.g.,two, parallel) absorbent pads or sponges for absorbing any leakage ofvaporizable material that may enter into this air-filled heaterconnector region, which is also open to the vaporizing chamber acrosswhich a wick and heating coil is extended to form vapor. The twoabsorbent pads positioned in this air region positioned on the long axisof the cartridge, against the major faces of the cartridge body so thatthey don't block the air path into the vaporization chamber from theopening(s) at the base. These absorbent pads (e.g., sponges) may preventdripping or leakage of the fluid from the vaporization chamber (e.g.,off of the wick) even when the heater is not being heated. In order toprevent leakage should the absorbent pads not be sufficient, the openinginto the base of the air chamber may include a rim or boss on the innersurface (within the heater connector region at the base of thecartridge) that prevents small amounts of fluid (e.g., vaporizationfluid such as cannabis oil) to drip out of the opening(s) into thecartridge (e.g., the air chamber of the cartridge).

The air path from the vaporization chamber to the mouthpiece may have aminimum diameter that is slightly larger than previously described. Forexample, the minimum diameter of the air path between the vaporizationchamber and the mouthpiece may be about 1.5 mm or greater, about 1.6 mmor greater, than about 1.7 mm or greater, than about 1.8 mm or greater,than about 1.9 mm or greater, than about 2 mm or greater, than about 2.1mm or greater, than about 2.2 mm or greater, than about 2.3 mm orgreater, than about 2.4 mm or greater, than about 2.5 mm or greater,etc. For example the minimum diameter may be 2.0 mm or greater.

In any of the variations described herein, the apparatus may include awick as part of the atomizer (heater). In variations for use withcannabis oil the wick may be larger than typical cartridge wicks and mayhave a slightly larger pore size, because of the higher viscosity of thecannabis oil as compared to other (including nicotine) aqueousvaporization solutions. For example, the wick may be larger than 1.5 mmin diameter (e.g., about 1.9 mm or larger, about 2.0 mm or larger, about2.1 mm or larger, about 2.2 mm or larger, about 2.3 mm or larger, about2.4 mm or larger, about 2.5 mm or larger, etc., including between about1.8 mm and about 5 mm, between about 1.9 mm and about 4 mm, betweenabout 2 mm and about 4 mm, etc.). The wick may generally extend acrossthe vaporization chamber, e.g., along or perpendicular to the long axisof the cartridge, and between either the major or minor sides (in ovalor flattened cartridges). The wick material may be any appropriatematerial, particularly those that are biocompatible, have a sufficientpore size, compatible with cannabis oils and may be resistant to heat upto the maximum heating temperature of the apparatus (e.g., will notdegrade or combust significantly at temperatures up to about 450° C.,500° C., 550° C., 600° C., 650° C., etc.). For example, the wick may bemade of a silica material (e.g., fiberglass).

In any of the heaters described herein, the heater (atomizer) mayinclude a heating coil that may be wrapped around the wick forconductive heating. In any of the variations described herein convectiveheating of the liquid material (e.g., cannabis oil) wicked by the wick.The heating coil may be any appropriate material, but in particular,electrically resistive materials such as nichrome or other resistivematerials, particularly those which change their resistance with heat(e.g., having a resistance that increases linearly and predictably withtemperature over the desired range of temperatures, e.g., between 30° C.and 600° C., etc., including stainless steel, titanium, nickel, alloysof nickel, etc.).

The cartridge may have any desired shape or configuration. In somevariations it may be beneficial in particular to have a shape that iscylindrical, and particularly a flattened cylinder, such as anapproximately oval shape, with curved sides. Two of the sides (thoughcurved) may be major sides, having a larger diameter, and two may beminor sides (though curved), having a smaller diameter. The flattenedshape may prevent rolling when the device is placed on its side. In somevariations the mouthpiece may extend in a slightly tapered shape. Thetank may form a central region of the cartridge, bounded by themouthpiece at one end (at the top) and the air chamber (at the bottom).A central cannula may form the air path between the vaporization chamberand the mouthpiece. The vaporization chamber and cannula may besurrounded by the tank, and may be visible through the walls of the tank(e.g., the vaporization chamber and cannula may be opaque, transparentor translucent). One or more seals, including o-rings, may be used toseal and secure the mouthpiece from the tank and the air chamber (baseof the cartridge) from the tank. For example an inner seal may bebetween the mouthpiece and the outer wall of the tank (which may includea channel or track for the seal/o-ring) and a second seal (o-ring) maybe positioned in an inner wall of the tank between the tank and thewalls forming the air chamber and/or vaporization chamber at the base ofthe cartridge.

In any of the variations described herein it may be useful to provide anindication of the amount of the cartridge vaporized, which may beapproximately correlated to the dose of the vaporizable materialdelivered. In any of the apparatuses described herein, the apparatus mayinclude an output (e.g., LED, LCD or other display, etc.) on theapparatus or on a device in communication (e.g., wireless communication)with the apparatus such as a smartphone, laptop, desktop, pad, or thelike. The output may indicate a qualitative and/or quantitative amountof the dose of vapor delivered from a particular cartridge. Dose may bedetermined using the processor of the apparatus to indicateapproximately how much of the material, e.g., cannabis oil, has beenconsumed based on the power applied to the heater and the duration ofheating. A qualitative output may be provided by sequentiallyilluminating (and/or changing the intensity and/or color ofillumination) of a plurality of LEDs. In another example a ‘status bar’showing consumption or dose delivered from a cartridge may be displayedon the apparatus body (e.g., the vaporizer body) or another device(e.g., smartphone) in communication therewith. For example, a pluralityof LEDs (RGB) may be illuminated to provide qualitative feedback to auser on the operation of the vaporizer. Upon inserting a cartridge, thevaporizer apparatus may display using the LEDs an illuminationcorresponding to the intensity of the inhalation and/or the progressionof consumption of vaporizable material from the cartridge. The processorin the vaporizer apparatus may estimate a dose based on the powerapplied to the vaporizer and the duration of heating and/or the durationof draw (inhalation). For example, the power applied * duration of drawmay be accumulated by the processor, and the value output. In somevariations the output may be provided for display on the body of theapparatus (e.g., by illuminating a sequence of LEDs. This may provideimmediate visual feedback to the user.

The apparatuses, and particularly the cartridges, described herein maybe adapted specifically for use with oils such as cannabis oils. Asdiscussed above, existing cartridges are poorly suited for use withcannabis oils, as they may leak. Leaking of cannabis oils is both messyand detrimental to the operation of the vaporizer, as the leakedcannabis oils may disrupt the electrical connections drivingvaporization and may clog or jam the operation of the apparatus. Thecartridges described herein may include a number of specificmodifications that address these issues; individually, thesemodifications may be helpful, but as will be described below, incombination these features have proven surprisingly effective atproviding a robustly leak-resistant and reliable cartridge when using anoil such as a cannabis oil.

For example a cartridge device for holding a vaporizable cannabinoidmaterial without leaking (e.g., that is substantially leak-resistant)may include: an elongate and flattened tubular body extending in adistal to a proximal axis and having a width and a diameter that aretransverse to the distal to proximal axis, wherein the diameter is 1.2times or greater than the width; a tank within a proximal end of theelongate and flattened tubular body, the tank configured to hold thevaporizable cannabinoid material; a mouthpiece at the proximal end ofthe elongate and flattened tubular body; an overflow leak chamber at adistal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body; an air pathextending from the overflow leak chamber through the tank to themouthpiece; a heater comprising a wick and a heating coil extendingwithin the air path; an opening into the overflow leak chamber from anexternal surface of the device, wherein the opening is fluidly connectedwith the air path; and one or more absorbent pads within the overflowleak chamber.

In particular the combination of the flattened elongate body shape(which may be oval or rectangular) along with the enlarged and enclosedoverflow leak chamber (typically having an open volume of greater 0.5×or greater the tank volume) at the distal end, and one or more (e.g.,two, three, four, etc.) openings into the overflow leak chamber, whichmay preferably include a lip region around the openings inside theoverflow leak chamber. The use of absorbents pads positioned within theoverflow leak chamber (e.g., positioned off-axis, along a major wall ofthe overflow leak chamber, such as the wall extending in the diameter)provides an effective leakage barrier even when changing altitudes orwhen the user misuses the cartridge, e.g., user-induced failure modessuch as biting or squeezing the mouthpiece, and/or blowing into themouthpiece. Surprisingly, other combinations of such features are lesseffective, particularly in user-induced failure modes. For example,otherwise similar cylindrical devices, e.g., having a width and diameterthat are equivalent or nearly equivalent (e.g., a diameter less than1.2×, or greater than 0.8×, the width) may show greater leakage comparedto more flattened devices; the addition of one or more absorbent pads,particularly along the long wall of an overflow leak chamber) show aneven greater reduction in leakage.

The one or more openings into the overflow leak chamber may be presenton any surface of the cartridge, including through the distal end of theoverflow leak chamber. Although placement of the opening at the distalend may otherwise result in an increase in leakage of the highly viscousoil from the cartridge, including the leak chamber and the absorbentpad(s) prevents or reduces leakage. In addition, the one or moreopenings may be surrounded by a lip within the leak chamber. The lip mayhave a height above the inner wall of the chamber that is 0.3 mm orgreater (e.g., 0.5 mm or greater, 0.7 mm or greater, 0.8 mm or greater,0.9 mm or greater, 1 mm or greater, 1.2 mm or greater, 1.3 mm orgreater, 1.4 mm or greater, 1.5 mm or greater, 2 mm or greater, etc.).

The one or more absorbent pads may be positioned within the overflowleak chamber along the diameter, off-axis relative to an air flow paththrough overflow leak chamber from the opening to the air path.

In general, the overflow leak chamber may be relatively large, e.g., thevolume of the overflow leak chamber (including the absorbent pad(s)) maybe between 0.4 and 1.5× the volume of the tank (reservoir). Inparticular, the volume of the overflow leak chamber may be between 0.4and 1× the volume of the tank (e.g., 0.4× or greater, 0.5× or greater,0.6× or greater, 0.7× or greater, etc. than the volume of the tank).Alternatively, this may be described as the length of the overflow leakchamber along the distal to proximal axis relative to the length of thetank, and may be between 0.4× and 2× the length of the tank along thedistal to proximal axis (e.g., between 0.4× and 1×, between 0.5× and 2×,between 0.5× and 1.5×, etc.), typically 0.4× or greater. In general, theoverflow leak chamber may be enclosed within the distal end of theelongate and flattened tubular body.

In general, the cartridges described herein may be configured forinsertion (e.g., by friction fitting) into a vaporizer body. Thus, thecartridge, and particularly the distal end of the cartridge, may beadapted to be inserted securely into the re-usable vaporizer device. Thecartridge may therefore have straight (e.g., flat) or inwardly taperedsides and may include one or more friction-engagement regions thatcouple within the vaporizer. In some variations the distal end region ofthe cartridge may include a channel, rim, lip, ridge, protrusion, etc.that may engage with a complimentary region in the vaporizer (e.g., in acartridge receiver in the vaporizer body). Thus, the cartridge may beconfigured to ‘snap’ fit into the vaporizer body. For example, thedistal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body may include a lipor rim configured to snap into a vaporizer body.

The cartridge may also include one or more (e.g., a pair) of electricalcontacts on the distal end of the cartridge (e.g., on the distal end ofthe overflow leak chamber) in electrical communication with the heater.These electrical contacts may also be configured and adapted to preventor ameliorate the effects of leakage of oil from the cartridge. Forexample, the electrical contacts may comprise scraping contacts (alsoreferred to as wiping or wiper contacts), which may include an edge oredge to scrape against the contact (e.g., pogo pin) from the vaporizerbefore (and/or separately from) making electrical contact. For example,the pair of electrical contacts may comprise pin receptacles. These pinreceptacles may include an outer scraping edge with an inner conductivesurface.

In any of the variations described herein, the tank may include acannabinoid solution (e.g., a cannabis oil solution). Thus, thecartridge may be pre-filled with a cannabis oil. The tank volume may beconfigured to hold between about 0.2 mL and about 2 mL or more of oil.For example, the tank may be configured to hold between about 0.4 mL andabout 1.2 mL (e.g., between about 0.4 mL and 0.8 mL, etc.)

The mouthpiece may be configured to fit over the proximal end of theelongate and flattened tubular body, and may be in fluid communicationwith the air path through the tank. The mouthpiece may include aninternal volume; one or more absorbent pads may be positioned withinthis internal volume. The one or more mouthpiece absorbent pads withinthe mouthpiece may generally be off-axis relative to the air path(leaving a central air path that is not occluded by the absorbent pads).For example, the mouthpiece absorbent pads may be off-axis relative toan air flow path from the air path and out of the mouthpiece. Themouthpiece absorbent pads may be positioned on the sides of themouthpiece (e.g., the major sides, corresponding to the diameter of themouthpiece). The absorbent pad(s) may be between a proximal end of themouthpiece and the elongate and flattened tubular body.

In any of the devices described herein the air path may extend throughthe cartridge, from the distal end (e.g., the opening(s) into theoverflow leak chamber), past the heater, through and/or around the tank,and out of the mouthpiece. In some variations, the air path comprises acannula extending through the tank. In general, the elongate body may betransparent or translucent, and any material in the tank may be visible;when the device includes a cannula running through the tank this mayalso be visible.

The absorbent pads in the overflow leak chamber may be the same materialand/or dimensions as those (if present) in the mouthpiece, or they maybe different materials and/or dimensions. The one or more absorbent padsmay be made of a sponge or felt material. The one or more absorbent padsmay comprise a pair of flat absorbent pads arranged in parallel. Forexample, the one or more absorbent pads may comprise a cotton material.The one or more absorbent pads may be rectangular.

As mentioned, the one or more absorbent pads in the overflow leakchamber may be a pair of absorbent pads positioned within the overflowleak chamber off-axis relative to an air flow path through the overflowleak chamber from the opening to the air path.

The heater (e.g., wick and coil) may be positioned within the air pathso that it is parallel, transverse or oblique to the air path. Forexample, the heater may extend across the air path in a transversedirection.

The elongate and flattened tubular body may have an oval cross-sectionor a rectangular cross-section transverse to the distal to proximalaxis, and may be any appropriate size. For example, the elongate tubularhousing may be between about 1 cm and 10 cm long (e.g., between about 2cm and 7 cm long, etc.). It may be particularly beneficial to have theelongate tubular housing be somewhat short and compact (e.g., less than8 cm, less than 7 cm, less than 6 cm, less than 5.5 cm, less than 5 cm,etc.)

The sizes of the openings into the air path (through the overflow leakchamber, e.g., at the distal end of the cartridge) may be configured toallow relatively easy draw through the cartridge, while preventingleakage out of the overflow leak path. Leaking may occur from the heater(e.g., the exposed wick) which is inserted through the wall of the tank;the air path within the cartridge is open and continuous, which wouldotherwise allow the material to leak. Thus, for example, the size of theone or more openings may be specified within a range identified asallowing sufficient air flow without permitting excessive leaking. Forexample, in some variations, the diameter of the opening(s) into theoverflow leak chamber is/are between 0.1 mm and 5 mm (e.g., between 0.1mm and 3 mm, between about 0.1 mm and 2 mm, etc.).

The tank portion of the device may be filled by an opening beneath themouthpiece, which may be sealed or plugged. For example, the cartridgemay include a plug between the mouthpiece and the elongate and flattenedtubular body, wherein the plug closes off the tank of the elongate andflattened tubular body.

Any of the cartridge devices for holding a vaporizable cannabinoidmaterial without leaking may include: an elongate and flattened tubularbody extending in a distal to a proximal axis and having width anddiameter that are transverse to the distal to proximal axis, wherein thediameter is 1.2 times or greater than the width; a tank within aproximal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body, the tankconfigured to hold the vaporizable cannabinoid material; a mouthpiece onthe proximal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body; an enclosedoverflow leak chamber at a distal end of the elongate and flattenedtubular body, The device of claim 1, wherein a length of the overflowleak chamber along the distal to proximal axis is 0.5 times or greaterthan a length of the tank along the distal to proximal axis; an air pathextending from the overflow leak chamber through the tank to themouthpiece; a heater comprising a wick and a heating coil extendingwithin the air path proximal to the overflow leak chamber; an openingthrough the distal end of the overflow leak chamber, wherein the openingis surrounded by a lip within the leak chamber and further wherein theopening is fluidly connected with the air path; and one or moreabsorbent pads within the overflow leak chamber.

For example, a cartridge device for holding a vaporizable cannabinoidmaterial without leaking may include: an elongate and flattened tubularbody extending in a distal to a proximal axis and having width anddiameter that are transverse to the distal to proximal axis, wherein thediameter is 1.2 times or greater than the width; a tank within aproximal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body, the tankconfigured to hold the vaporizable cannabinoid material; a mouthpiece atthe proximal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body; an overflowleak chamber at a distal end of the elongate and flattened tubular body,wherein a length of the overflow leak chamber along the distal toproximal axis is between 0.5 and 2 times a length of the tank along thedistal to proximal axis; an air path extending proximally from theoverflow leak chamber through the tank to the mouthpiece, wherein theair path comprises a cannula extending through the middle of the tank; aheater comprising a wick and a heating coil extending within the airpath; an opening into the overflow leak chamber from an external surfaceof the device, wherein the opening is surrounded by a lip within theleak chamber and further wherein the opening is fluidly connected withthe air path; and one or more absorbent pads within the overflow leakchamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show moisture and vapor deposition on a pair of filterpads that are off-axis relative to the airflow path of the device.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a vaporization device with a pair of filter padsthat are off-axis relative to the airflow path of the device.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an exemplary vaporization device. This exemplarydevice includes two pairs of absorbent filter pads, as described herein.FIGS. 4A and 4B show a cartridge placed within the reusable component ofthe device.

FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate the vaporizer body (e.g., a reusable component ofthe vaporizer device of FIGS. 4A and 4B). FIG. 5A is a bottomperspective view; FIG. 5B is a front view, FIG. 5C is a top perspectiveview (looking into the cartridge receiver region including electricalcontacts), FIG. 5D is a side view, FIG. 5E is a top view, and FIG. 5F isa bottom view, showing the electrical connection to a charger or otherwired electrical connection.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate the cartridge of the device of FIGS. 4A and 4B.FIG. 6A is a bottom perspective view, FIG. 6B is a bottom view, FIG. 6Cis a top perspective view (showing the opening into the mouthpiece) andFIG. 6D is an exploded view of the cartridge of FIG. 6A.

FIGS. 7A-7F illustrate an alternative view of a cartridge as describedherein. FIG. 7A shows a bottom perspective view; FIG. 7B is a topperspective view; FIG. 7C is a front view;

FIG. 7D is a side view; FIG. 7E is a bottom view; and FIG. 7F is a topview.

FIGS. 8A-8G show a variation of a vaporizer base of a vaporizerapparatus into which a cartridge such as the one shown in FIGS. 7A-7Fmay be inserted. FIG. 8A is a bottom perspective view; FIG. 8B is a topperspective view showing the cartridge receiver portion of the vaporizerbase; FIGS. 8C, 8D and 8E show front, side and back views, respectivelyof the vaporizer base; and FIGS. 8F and 8G show bottom and top views,respectively of the vaporizer base.

FIGS. 9A-9G show an assembled vaporizer apparatus including a vaporizercartridge such as the one shown in FIGS. 7A-7F that has been fullyseated and retained in a vaporizer base such as the one shown in FIGS.8A-8G. FIGS. 9A and 9B show bottom perspective and top perspectiveviews, respectively of the assembled vaporizer apparatus; FIGS. 9C, 9Dand 9E show front, side and back views, respectively of the assembledvaporizer apparatus; FIGS. 9F and 9G show bottom and top views,respectively, of the vaporizer apparatus.

FIG. 10A is an exploded view of the cartridge of FIGS. 7A-7F with thecomponents arranged in line.

FIG. 10B is an alternative exploded view of the cartridge of FIGS.7A-7F, showing the component parts positioned adjacent to each other atthe approximate vertical position for assembly.

FIG. 11A is a semi-transparent view (in which the outer casing of thevaporizer base, mouthpiece, and cartridge housing have been a madetransparent) showing the air path through the assembled vaporizerapparatus such as the one shown in FIGS. 7A-9G.

FIGS. 11B and 11C show front and back views, respectively, of an exampleof a vaporizer base with the outer housing (case or shell) madetransparent, showing the cartridge receiving end including connectorsand air entry port therein.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a section through a midline of theproximal (top) region of a cartridge (as shown by dashed line 12-12′ inFIG. 9A), showing the air path from the vaporization chamber to themouthpiece openings.

FIG. 13 is a section through the midline of a vaporizer apparatus(including a vaporizer base into which a vaporizer cartridge has beencoupled), showing the air path during inhalation (puffing, drawing,etc.).

FIG. 14 show a section through a cartridge, just beneath the mouthpiece(as shown by dashed line 14′-14′ in FIG. 9B) showing the arrangement ofthe distal pair of absorbent pads offset from the airflow path.

FIG. 15A is a section through the midline of an assembled vaporizerapparatus such as the one shown in FIG. 9A (through line 15A-15A′).

FIG. 15B is another section through an assembled vaporizer apparatussuch as the one shown in FIG. 9A (through line 12-12′).

FIG. 15C shows another section through the assembled vaporizer apparatus(through line 15C-15C′ in FIG. 9B).

FIG. 15D is a section through a cartridge (through line 15D-15D′ of acartridge such as the one shown in FIG. 7A) showing a pair of overflowfilter pads that are off-axis relative to the airflow path of thedevice.

FIG. 16 is a section through another of another exemplary vaporizationdevice (at line 16-16′ in FIG. 9B), near the base of the cartridge andinserted into the cartridge receiver of the vaporizer base.

FIG. 17 is an electrical schematic of a heating element and connectorsshowing the Seebeck coefficients for a simplified model of thecomponents of the heating circuit.

FIG. 18 is a Seebeck measurement circuit for a vaporizer apparatuscorrecting for the Seebeck effect, configured as a two-terminal sensingcircuit.

FIG. 19 is another example of a Seebeck measurement circuit for avaporizer apparatus, configured as a four-terminal (four-point) circuit.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate two examples of heating coils comprisingdifferent component conductors coupled to result in resistive heaterfrom which a temperature measurement may be determined using a Seebecksensing circuit as described herein.

FIG. 21 is one example of a user interface (UI) for interacting with theapparatuses described herein using an external controller (e.g.,smartphone, pad, etc.)

FIG. 22 is another example of a US for interacting with an apparatus asdescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The apparatuses and methods described herein generally include forming avapor from a material (including in particular, liquid and oil-typeplant materials) using a vaporization device. The vapor may be deliveredfor inhalation by a user. These apparatuses may be particularly adaptedfor use with an oil-based vaporizable material, including cannabis oils.

The vaporizer apparatuses, including cartridges (vaporizer cartridges)and reusable vaporizers bases described herein may be used with anyappropriate vaporizable material, including aqueous vaporizablematerials. These apparatuses may be particularly well adapted for usewith viscous, oil-based vaporizable materials, including cannabis oils.For example, any of the cartridges described herein may be used (e.g.,filled) with a vaporizable material comprising viscous liquid such as acannabis oil. In some variations the cannabis oil comprises between40-100% cannabis oil extract. The viscous oil may include a carrier forimproving vapor formation, such as propylene glycol, glycerol, etc., atbetween 0.01% and 25% (e.g., between 0.1% and 22%, between 1% and 20%,between 1% and 15%, etc.). In some variations the vapor-forming carrieris 1,3-Propanediol. A cannabis oil may include a cannabinoid orcannabinoids (natural and/or synthetic), and/or a terpene or terpenes.For example, any of the vaporizable materials described herein mayinclude one or more (e.g., a mixture of) cannabinoid including one ormore of: CBG (Cannabigerol), CBC (Cannabichromene), CBL (Cannabicyclol),CBV (Cannabivarin), THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), CBDV(Cannabidivarin), CBCV (Cannabichromevarin), CBGV (Cannabigerovarin),CBGM (Cannabigerol Monomethyl Ether), Tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabidiol(CBD), Cannabinol (CBN), one or more Endocannabinoids (e.g., anandamide,2-Arachidonoylglycerol, 2-Arachidonyl glyceryl ether, N-Arachidonoyldopamine, Virodhamine, Lysophosphatidylinositol), and/or a syntheticcannabinoids such as one or more of: JWH-018, JWH-073, CP-55940,Dimethylheptylpyran, HU-210, HU-331, SR144528, WIN 55,212-2, JWH-133,Levonantradol (Nantrodolum), and AM-2201. The oil vaporization materialmay include one or more terpene, such as Hemiterpenes, Monoterpenes(e.g., geraniol, terpineol, limonene, myrcene, linalool, pinene,Iridoids), Sesquiterpenes (e.g., humulene, farnesenes, farnesol),Diterpenes (e.g., cafestol, kahweol, cembrene and taxadiene),Sesterterpenes, (e.g., geranylfarnesol), Triterpenes (e.g., squalene),Sesquarterpenes (e.g., ferrugicadiol and tetraprenylcurcumene),Tetraterpenes (lycopene, gamma-carotene, alpha- and beta-carotenes),Polyterpenes, and Norisoprenoids. For example, an oil vaporizationmaterial as described herein may include between 20-80% cannabinoids(e.g., 30-90%, 40-80%, 50-75%, 60-80%, etc.), 0-40% terpenes (e.g.,1-30%, 10-30%, 10-20%, etc.), and 0-25% carrier (e.g., polyethyleneglycol).

In any of the oil vaporization materials described herein (including inparticular, the cannabinoid-based vaporization materials, the viscositymay be within a predetermined range. The range may be between about 30cP (centipoise) and 115 KcP (kilocentipoise). For example, the viscositymay be between 40 cP and 113 KcP. Outside of this range, the vaporizablematerial may fail to wick appropriately to form a vapor as describedherein. In particular, the oil may be made sufficiently thin to bothpermits wicking at a rate that is useful with the apparatuses describedherein, while also limiting leaking (e.g., viscosities below that of ˜40cP might result in problems with leaking).

For example, FIGS. 7A-7F illustrate one example of a cartridge that isadapted for use with a viscous oil-based vaporizable material (having aviscosity at room temperature of between 40 cP and 113 KcP), such as acannabis oil. In this example, the cartridge 700 includes a flattenedbody that is approximately oval in cross-sectional area (see, e.g.,FIGS. 7E and 7F showing top and bottom views) and includes a mouthpiecethat is attached over a clear body forming a reservoir region holdingthe vaporizable material. The body 790 may be transparent, translucentor opaque. The mouthpiece may include one or more openings 792 at theproximal end (top) out of which vapor may be inhaled, by drawing breaththrough the device. The bottom may also include a locking feature (e.g.,tab, indent, magnetic lock, etc.) for coupling and securing thecartridge within a cartridge receiver of a vaporizer base, such as thereusable vaporizer base 800 shown in FIGS. 8A-8G. In this example, thebody may be elongate and may include an outer shell or cover 890; theproximal end of the vaporizer base may include an opening forming acartridge receiver 892. The cartridge receiver may include one or moreopening therethrough (e.g., lateral openings) to allow airflow therein,as described in more detail below. Any of these cartridges may also oralternatively include a rim, ridge, channel, protrusion, lip, etc. alongthe distal end region for engaging a complimentary portion of thevaporizer device. For example, in FIG. 7D, the cartridge include achannel or lip 795 at the distal end which may engage with a deflectableor deformable tab or protrusion in the cartridge receiving portion ofthe vaporizer; this may provide a snap fit. In general, the cartridgemay fit within the cartridge receiver of the vaporizer by a frictionfit. The snap-fit may provide audible and/or tactile confirmation thatthe cartridge is held in position. This fit may also lock or hold thecartridge within the receiver, but still allow it to be easily withdrawnto remove the cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 7C, the elongate and flattened body 790 may containwithin it the tank region 791 (e.g., holding the vaporizable oilmaterial) and a distal overflow leak chamber 793. These structures maybe formed by the internal components within the elongate and tubularbody, as shown below.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show exploded view of a cartridge as described herein.In this example, the apparatus includes a cartridge body 1005 that maybe clear (transparent), opaque and/or translucent. The cartridge bodymay form a reservoir for the liquid vaporizable material, andparticularly for a viscous liquid vaporizable material such as thecannabinoid oils described herein. The cartridge may include an outerseal (e.g., o-ring 1009) that seals the mouthpiece 403 over the body1005. The reservoir (tank) may be sealed on the top (at the proximalend) under the mouthpiece by a single-piece plug 888 that coversmultiple openings which may be used for filling the tank. Thevaporization chamber may be formed at the bottom (distal end) of thecartridge; in exemplary cartridges described herein the vaporizationchamber is formed from a cannula and housing piece 1011 that includesopening into which the wick (wick portion of wick and coil 443) passesinto the chamber; the walls forming the vaporization chamber separate itfrom the tank and mate with a back piece 1013 that forms the bottom(distal end) of the tank within the cartridge body. This piece is alsosealed (e.g., by an o-ring 1015) to the cartridge body from within thecartridge body, as shown. An air chamber is then formed between thebottom of the cartridge 1019 and the back piece 1013 of the tank. One ormore (e.g., two) air openings 796, 796′ through this bottom 1019 allowair to pass (after entering the cartridge receiver through one or moreopenings 894 in the side) into the distal end of the cartridge, into theair chamber region and then up through an opening into the vaporizationchamber. The piece forming the bottom of the cartridge 1019 may alsoaccommodate or include one or more (e.g., two) electrical connectorsthat are configured to mate with the connectors on the vaporizer base.As mentioned, these contacts may be wiper or scraping contacts. In FIGS.10A and 10B, they are shown as cans 1021, 1021′ having openings intowhich the pins project to form an electrical contact.

The vaporizer body typically includes a battery and one or more controlcircuits housed within the cover 890. The control circuitry may controlthe heater, which in this example, is present in the cartridge. Theheater may generally include a heating coil (resistive heater) inthermal contact with the wick; additional connectors formed of adifferent material (e.g., conductive material) may connect the heatercoil to the electrical contacts on the base of the cartridge; althoughthis may lead to inaccuracies in detecting and controlling temperatureelectrically, as described below, the control circuitry may include oneor more additional circuits, such as Seebeck measurement circuits, thatcorrect for offsets and other inaccuracies in the determination oftemperature and therefore the power applied to the apparatus. Thecontrol circuitry may also include and may control and/or communicatewith a batter regulator (which may regulate the battery output, regulatecharging/discharging of the battery, and may provide alerts to indicatewhen the battery charge is low, etc.). The co control circuitry may alsoinclude and may control and/or communicate with an output, such as adisplay, one or more LEDs, one or more LCDS, a haptic output, or anycombination of these. In the example shown in FIGS. 7A-9G, the apparatusincludes only four (RGB) LEDs 897, arranged in a pattern (e.g., acircular, spiral or floral pattern; other patterns may include linearpatterns). Any of the apparatuses described herein may also include awireless communication circuitry that is part of, connected and/orcontrolled by the control circuitry. The apparatus may be configured towireless communicate with a remote processor (e.g., smartphone, pad,wearable electronics, etc.); thus the apparatus may receive controlinformation (e.g., for setting temperature, resetting a dose counter,etc.) and/or output information (dose information, operationalinformation, error information, temperature setting information,charge/battery information, etc.).

The apparatus may also include one or more inputs, such as anaccelerometer, a lip sensing input, a contact input, or the like. Inparticular, described herein are vaporizer apparatuses in which thedevice does not include any visible buttons, switches or external userinput on an outer surface of the cartridge or vaporizer base. Instead,the input may be an accelerometer (coupled to, part of, and/orcontrolled by the control circuitry). The accelerometer and anyaccelerometer control circuitry may be configured to detect tapping onthe apparatus (e.g., the case) and/or rolling of the apparatus (e.g.,around the long axis or the short axis of the device). In somevariations the apparatus may also include circuitry forsensing/detecting when a cartridge is connected and/or removed from thevaporizer base. For example, cartridge-detection circuitry may determinewhen a cartridge is connected to the device based on an electrical stateof the electrical contacts within the cartridge reliever in thevaporizer base. For example, FIG. 5C illustrates the two electricalcontacts 595, 595′. Without a cartridge inserted into the apparatus thecircuit is open (e.g., between 595 and 595′) with the cartridgeinserted, the electrical contacts (shown as pins 595, 595′ in FIGS. 5Dand 11B) engage with the contacts (such as wiping contracts, describedabove, which scrape to remove leaked and/or dried vaporizable materialon the electrode contact surfaces). The controller (via a separate orintegrated cartridge-detection circuit) may determine that a cartridgehas been inserted when the resistance between these contacts changes towithin a recognizable range (from the open circuit). Other cartridgedetectors may be used alternatively or additionally, including a tripswitch (which is activated when the cartridge is present), or the like.Any of the apparatuses described herein may also include one or morebreath detectors, including a pressure sensor 1109 (e.g., microphonecoil) having a connection to the inside of the cartridge receiver, asshown in FIG. 11B.

The vaporizer body may also include a connector 899 at the distal endfor coupling the device to a charger and/or data connection. Theinternal battery may be charged when coupling the device to a connector;alternatively other electrical connectors and/or inductive charging maybe used.

FIGS. 9A-9G illustrate an example of an apparatus (vaporizer apparatus)in which the cartridge 700 has been inserted completely into thevaporizer body 800. The resulting device is small, lightweight,hand-held and may be safely stored in a pocket, purse, or the like.

In operation, the user may (once charged sufficiently), may activate thevaporizer by being drawing (inhaling) through the mouthpiece. The devicemay detect a draw (e.g., using a pressure sensor, flow sensors, or thelike, including a sensor configured to detect a change in temperature orpower applied to a heater element, e.g., anemometer detection) and mayincrease the power to a predetermined temperature preset. The power maybe regulated by the controller by detecting the change in resistance ofthe heating coil and using the temperature coefficient of resistivity todetermine the temperature. As described in greater detail below, thetemperature determination and/or power applied may be optionallycorrected in cases where there are different electrically conductivematerials connecting the resistive heater to the power supply/power, inwhich the Seebeck effect may be an issue, using a sensing circuit toestimate and compensate for this potential source of inaccuracy.

In any of the apparatuses described herein, the temperature may beadjusted or selected by the user. As mentioned, in some variations theapparatus does not include an exterior control or user input, but stillallows the user to select the temperature from among a plurality (e.g.,two or more, three or more, etc.) of pre-set heating/vaporizingtemperatures above 100° C. This may be achieved by allowing the user tocoordinate (in time, e.g., within 60 seconds, within 50 seconds, within40 seconds, within 45 seconds, within 40 seconds, within 30 seconds,within 20 seconds, within 10 seconds, between 1 second and 60 seconds,between 2 seconds and 60 seconds, between 3 seconds and 60 seconds,etc.) a pair of distinct inputs that are based detection of inputs thatare internal to the apparatus (e.g., not from controls on the surface ofthe apparatus), such detection an accelerometer input (e.g., tapping,such as one or more, e.g. 3 or more, taps, rotations of the device inthe long axis, etc.) within a predefined time after removing thecartridge and/or inserting the cartridge. For example, the apparatus mayenter into a temperature selection mode to allow a user to select thetemperature by removing the cartridge after shaking the apparatus (e.g.,for 1 or more seconds, e.g., 2 or more seconds, etc.). Once in atemperature selection mode, the user may select from among a number(e.g., 4) or pre-set temperatures by tapping the housing of the deviceto cycle through the pre-set temperatures, which may be displayed on anoutput (e.g., LED, monitor, LCD, etc.) on the apparatus.

Any other input on the device that is not (or not connected to) abutton, and particularly an external button, may be used in apredetermined activation sequence (e.g., pattern of taps detected by theaccelerometer, insertion/removal of cartridge, etc.) or in a set ofsequential independent actuations. For example, the apparatus may enterinto a temperature selection mode after removing and inserting acartridge three times in quick successions (e.g., within 5 seconds ofeach step). In any of the variations described herein, merely shakingthe apparatus may display information about the status of the device(e.g., the charge) using the output; the additional non-button input(e.g., removing the cartridge and/or inserting the cartridge) within thepredetermined time may then allow the operating temperature to beselected.

In some variations, the apparatus includes multiple (e.g., 4) presets,and an optional additional preset (e.g., 5th preset or more) that may beuser-settable. Alternatively or additionally, an external controller(smartphone, pad, computer, etc.) in may communicate with the apparatusto allow setting and/or selecting the operating temperature.

In on example, the apparatus may be operated to allow the user to selectthe operating temp (set mode) by shaking the device with a cartridgeinserted. In some variations this may then change the display (e.g.,multi-colored LEDs on the surface of the device), for example,displaying battery life using the multiple LEDs arranged (e.g., in an Xpattern 897, see, e.g., FIG. 8C). While in this state, removingcartridge enters temp set mode. The device automatically cycles throughthe 4 (+1 or more, when user defined) presets. The user may then chooseone by reinserting the pod at appropriate time. In some variations, thepreset temperatures are: 270° C., 320° C., 370° C., 420° C. In somevariations the user may modify or include an additional preset within atemp range around each preset, e.g.: within an operational range ofbetween 270-420° C.

As mentioned above, any of the apparatuses described herein may beoperated with an external processor to receive input and/or output tocontrol operation of the device. For example, the vaporizer apparatusmay be operated with an application software (“app”) that allows controlof the temperature or other functional setting and/or allows storage,display and/or transmission of operational and/or use information,including dose information. As described herein, an approximate estimatefor dose may be determined based on the power applied to the heater(resistive coil) during inhalation (over time), e.g., power applied tocoil multiplied by time of draw. This approximate ‘dose’ estimate may beaccumulated over the use of a particular cartridge (e.g., once acartridge is inserted, it may be accumulated and/or displayed until thecartridge is removed, roughly amounting to a “session” with thatcartridge).

For example, FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate exemplary user interfaces for anapplication software that allows the user to set and or adjust thepre-set temperatures of the apparatus. In FIG. 21, the user may selectthe per-set temperature. FIG. 22 illustrates the use of the app tocontrol the appearance and activity of the apparatus. For example, theuser may lock/unlock the apparatus, and track usage (e.g., by doesestimation).

In any of the apparatuses described herein the apparatus may allow theuser to play one or more interactive “games” with the device. Forexample, any of these apparatuses may include an entertainment mode thatmay be entered by manipulating the device (e.g., by tapping, shaking,rotating, puffing in a predetermined pattern, etc.). In general, theentertainment mode may include one or more presentations (e.g., LEDlight displays, tones/music, patterns of vibrations, or combinations ofthese) and/or games. The device may be configured to allow selection ofthe presentation states or game states (games) to be played, or it mayrandomly select one. In general the games may be interactive, allowingthe user to provide input, e.g., via the one or more inputs, such asmovement of the device, via motions sensing, touching the device, via abutton and/or capacitive sensor (e.g., lip sensing, etc.), puff/airflowsensing, inserting and/or removing the cartridge, etc.

For example, the entertainment mode may include a game such as apattern-following game, wherein the device presents an output (e.g., oneor more LEDS illuminated in a pattern and/or color), and the device(e.g. controller) may determine if a response entered by the user on theinput correlates with a predetermined response. In general, the samecontroller used to control the heater may be used to control theentertainment mode including the games. Alternatively a separatecontroller may be used, and may communicate with the controllercontrolling the heater.

The one or more games may include a memory game. For example, in amemory game the device may presents an output sequence and determines ifa sequence of responses entered by the user on the input correlates witha predetermined sequence of responses. The one or more games may includea triggered output game wherein the device presents an output inresponse to a predetermined user input. For example, the device mayilluminate a series differently positioned and/or colored LEDs based onthe angle or movement that the user holds the device.

The one or more games may include a chance type game, wherein the deviceis configured to display a random pattern of one or more of colors,tones or vibrations, in response to a predetermined user input. Theentertainment mode may include a display game wherein the outputcomprises a plurality of LEDs and wherein the device is configured tocycle the LEDs through a predetermined sequence of colors in response toa predetermined user input. The entertainment mode may include a tonegame wherein the output comprises a plurality of tones and wherein thedevice is configured to play a predetermined sequence of tones inresponse to a predetermined user input.

As mentioned, the device may be configured to be toggled between thenormal mode and the entertainment mode by applying one or morepredetermined user manipulations to the input. For example, the devicemay be rotated. In some variations, the device input comprises anaccelerometer, and the device may be configured to be toggled betweenthe normal mode and the entertainment mode by rolling or rotating thedevice (e.g., three or more times) in one or more directions.

In addition to or alternative to the games, the entertainment mode mayinclude an entertainment output (display) that is triggered uponentering into the entertainment mode. For example, as mentioned, theentertainment output may include one or more of: a display of aplurality of colors and/or patterns on the output, a tone or series oftones, a vibration or series of vibrations.

Leak Prevention

Any of the apparatuses described herein may be configured to prevent orreduce leakage of the vaporizable material. As mentioned, leaking anoil-based (and particularly cannabinoid oils) is particularlytroublesome in a vaporizer because the vaporizable material may dry as asticky, tarry substance that is both messy and may disrupt operation ofthe apparatus, particular the reusable (e.g., vaporizer base) portion.

For example, any of the apparatuses described herein may include one ormore absorbent pads or members that are oriented to prevent leakagewithout disrupting the airflow or formation of vapor. In general,moisture and particles from the vapor can be deposited on a filter padthat is off-axis relative to the vapor path. The vaporization device maybe a handheld vaporization device.

As described above, any of the vaporization apparatuses (device andsystems) may comprise a heating element, including a resistive heatingelement. The heating element may heat the material such that thetemperature of the material increases. Vapor may be generated as aresult of heating the material.

In some cases, a vaporization device may have an “atomizer” or“cartomizer” configured to heat an aerosol forming solution (e.g.,vaporizable material). The vaporizable material may be heated to asufficient temperature such that it may vaporize (e.g., between 200° C.and 500° C., e.g., between 250-450° C., between 270-420° C., etc.). Theapparatus or method may include one or more pre-set vaporizationtemperatures and the apparatus or method may control (via controllerincluding feedback logic) the temperature to a predetermined and/orselected temperature.

An atomizer may comprise a small heating element configured to heatand/or vaporize at least a portion of the vaporizable material and awicking material that may draw a liquid vaporizable material into theatomizer (e.g., heater). When the apparatus includes a wicking material,the wicking material may comprise silica fibers, cotton, ceramic, hemp,stainless steel mesh, and/or rope cables. The wicking material may beconfigured to draw the liquid vaporizable material in to the atomizerwithout a pump or other mechanical moving part. A resistance wire may bewrapped around the wicking material and then connected to a positive andnegative pole of a current source (e.g., energy source). The resistancewire may be a coil. When the resistance wire is activated, theresistance wire (or coil) may have a temperature increase as a result ofthe current flowing through the resistive wire to generate heat. Theheat may be transferred to at least a portion of the vaporizablematerial through conductive, convective, and/or radiative heat transfersuch that at least a portion of the vaporizable material vaporizes.

Alternatively or in addition to the atomizer, the vaporization devicemay be configured as a “cartomizer” to generate an aerosol from thevaporizable material for inhalation by the user. The cartomizer maycomprise a cartridge and an atomizer. The cartomizer may comprise aheating element surrounded by a liquid-soaked poly-foam that acts asholder for the vaporizable material (e.g., the liquid). The cartomizermay be reusable, rebuildable, refillable, and/or disposable. Thecartomizer may be used with a tank for extra storage of a vaporizablematerial.

Air may be drawn into the vaporization device to carry the vaporizedaerosol away from the heating element, where it then cools and condensesto form liquid particles suspended in air, which may then be drawn outof the mouthpiece by the user. For example, any of the apparatusesdescribed herein may include a draw channel or passage. The draw channelmay be in fluid communication with the heater so that vapor formed bythe heater passes into the draw channel, which is also in fluidcommunication with the mouthpiece, which may be integrated with thedevice (including a cartridge).

One or more aspects of the vaporization device may be designed and/orcontrolled in order to deliver a vapor with one or more specifiedproperties to the user. For example, aspects of the vaporization devicethat may be designed and/or controlled to deliver the vapor withspecified properties may comprise the heating temperature, heatingmechanism, device air inlets, internal volume of the device, and/orcomposition of the material.

Energy may be required to operate the heating element. The energy may bederived from a battery in electrical communication with the heatingelement. Alternatively, a chemical reaction (e.g., combustion or otherexothermic reaction) may provide energy to the heating element.

The term “aerosol” may generally refer to a colloid of fine solidparticles or liquid droplets in air or another gas. In general, theaerosols described herein are liquid aerosols of primarily(e.g., >80%, >85%, >90%, >95%) liquid particles in air. The liquid orsolid particles in an aerosol may have varying diameters of average massthat may range from monodisperse aerosols, producible in the laboratory,and containing particles of uniform size, to polydisperse colloidalsystems, exhibiting a range of particle sizes. As the sizes of theseparticles become larger, they have a greater settling speed which causesthem to settle out of the aerosol faster, making the appearance of theaerosol less dense and to shorten the time in which the aerosol willlinger in air. Interestingly, an aerosol with smaller particles willappear thicker or denser because it has more particles. Particle numberhas a much bigger impact on light scattering than particle size (atleast for the considered ranges of particle size), thus allowing for avapor cloud with many more smaller particles to appear denser than acloud having fewer, but larger particle sizes.

A vapor may generally refer to a substance in the gas phase at atemperature lower than its critical point. As used herein, a vapor mayinclude a liquid aerosol. For convenience the term vapor and aerosol,which may generally refer to liquid aerosols, may be usedinterchangeably herein, as is common in the art of electronicvaporization devices.

The methods and apparatuses described herein have a wide range ofapplications for inhalation of an active substance, such as botanicals,pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, or any other substance for inhalationto provide a benefit or sensation to an end user. In some embodiments,the devices described herein include a tank having a liquid containingan active ingredient, such as nicotine, cannabis, or a cannabinoid.

The term “cannabis” refers to plants of the genus Cannabis andloose-leaf products or extracts thereof. As mentioned above, the term“cannabinoid” refers to plant based or synthetic chemical compoundscapable of acting on cannabinoid receptors and inducing a biologicaleffect. Cannabinoids include acids, salts, and bioactive stereo isomers.Exemplary cannabinoids include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabigerol (CBG), tetrahydrocannabinolicacid (THCA), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin(CBV), cannabichromevarin (CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerolMonomethyl Ether (CBGM), delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (D8THC),delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9THC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV),cannabinolic acid (CBNA), Cannabinol (CBN), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA),Cannabidivaric acid (CBDVA), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromenic acid(CBCA), Cannabichromene (CBC), or cannabicyclolic acid (CBLA) and/or anysalt or stereo isomer of the above.

The devices described herein for generating an inhalable aerosol mayinclude a body having a battery, a cartridge or tank including orconfigured to include the vaporizable material, at least input (e.g., insome variations without any input on an outer surface of the apparatus,e.g., “button less”), and circuitry for controlling the device.

An exemplary vaporization device 200 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thevaporization device 200 includes two filter pads 222 a,b. The filterpads 222 a,b are positioned off of the central axis of the air path 212.As the vapor travels down the air tube 208 and begins to return toliquid state, both condensation and particle aggregation will occur. Asthe vapor exits the air tube 208 into the air path 212, the moisture(see FIG. 1) and larger particles (see FIG. 2) can filter onto the pads222 a,b (i.e., via gravity) without interfering with the user's draw onthe device.

The one or more pads for use with any of the embodiments describedherein (including pads 222 a,b) can be made of an absorbent material.The absorbent material can both wick moisture quickly and allow it todisperse quickly therethrough. Thus, the absorbent material can behydrophilic. Exemplary materials include cotton, e.g., a non-wovencotton lintner paper, felt, cellulose, or hydrophilic polymers. Further,the one or more pads can be curved, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or can besubstantially flat panels. In some embodiments, the one or more pads caneach be made of two or more thin sheets of layered material.

The one or more pads can be positioned within or proximate to themouthpiece so as to capture moisture just prior to inhalation by theuser. Further, in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the oneor more pads can be pushed up against the interior surface of thevaporizer so as to minimize interference with other components of thevaporizer. In other embodiments, the one or more pads can be pulled awayfrom the interior walls so as to maximize the surface area available formoisture absorption. The pads can be rectangular, circular, ovoid,triangular, square, or other shape. The shape and size of the pads canbe chosen so as to minimize interference with the air path whilemaximizing moisture and particle collection.

Another exemplary vaporizer 300 utilizing moisture deposition pads 322a,b is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The vaporizer 300 includes a cartridge301 that is attachable to a reusable component 300 (which can includethe electronics to power the device, etc.). As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B,the cartridge 301 can include a tank 302, a heater assembly 343, an airtube 308, and a mouthpiece 303. The pads 322 a,b can be rectangular,flat, and positioned in parallel within the mouthpiece 303 on eitherside of the air tube 308 (i.e., off-axis with the air tube 308). Thevaporizer 300 can further include any of the features described in U.S.application Ser. No. 15/053,927, titled “VAPORIZATION DEVICE SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS,” filed on Feb. 25, 2016, Publication No. US 2016-0174611 A1,the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Another exemplary vaporizer 400 that can utilize one or more pads isshown in FIGS. 4A-6B. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the vaporizer 400includes a reusable component 411 and a cartridge 401. The diameter ofdevice 400 is greater than the width (e.g., greater than 1.2×, 1.3×,1.4×, 1.5×, 1.6×, 1.7×, 1.8× 1.9×, etc.), making the device have asubstantially long and flat appearance and feel.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the reusable component 411 includes ashell 431, which can include the electronics for operating thevaporizer. Further, the reusable component 411 can include a visualindicator 421, such as an LED, for signaling the operating status of thevaporizer 400. The distal end of the reusable component 411 (shown inFIG. 5F) includes a charging element 433 configured for charging thedevice. Further, the proximal end of the device (FIG. 5E) includescontacts 435 for maintaining an electrical connection with the cartridge401.

The cartridge 401 is shown in FIGS. 6A-6D. As best shown in the explodedview of FIG. 6D the cartridge 401 includes a tank 441 configured to holda liquid vaporizable material therein, a heater (e.g. a wick and coilassembly) 443 configured to heat the vaporizable material in the tank441, and an air tube 408 extending from the tank to a mouthpiece 403.Contacts 535 are configured to connect with contacts 435 on the reusablecomponent 411 to provide power to activate the wick and coil assembly443. At the distal end of the cartridge the walls of the elongate andflattened tubular body 441 and a bottom cover piece 691 form an overflowleak chamber 699, which is shown with a pair of absorbent pads 495 a,bare positioned along the long walls (along the diameter) of the overflowleak chamber. An option felt cover 693 may be included (also acting asan absorbent member).

As shown in FIGS. 4A-5D, the device 400 further includes openings,configured as air inlets 762 a,b, on the side of the shell 431. The airinlets are proximate to openings (air inlets) 662 a,b on the distal endof the cartridge 401 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B) opening into the overflowleak chamber (not visible). Referring to FIG. 11A (which is across-section of the device 400 at the center), the air flow path 777from inlets 762 a,b to inlets 662 a,b, extends through the tube 408until it reaches the stop 433 (see FIG. 12) and then divides into twoseparate paths that extend along the inner surface of the mouthpiece 402(between the pads 422 a,b) and out through the outlets of the mouthpiece403.

As shown in FIGS. 6D and 12-14, parallel absorbent pads 422 a,b can bepositioned within the mouthpiece 403. The absorbent pads 422 a,b arerectangular and parallel with one another. The absorbent pads 422 a,bare positioned substantially parallel to the flat side of the device 400(parallel with the plane of the length 1 and width w in FIG. 4A) andparallel with one another. In some embodiments, the pads 422 a,b can bebiased fully against the inside walls of the mouthpiece 403 so as toeasily capture liquid that rolls along the walls. A distance between thetwo pads 422 a,b can be, for example, between 3 and 6 mm, such asbetween 4 and 5 mm, e.g., approximately 4.8 mm. The gap between theabsorbent pads 422 a,b advantageously prevents the pads from interferingwith the air flow path when a user draws on the mouthpiece 403.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6D, 12 and 13 in some embodiments, over-flowpads 445 a,b are positioned proximate to the tank 441, i.e., within anoverflow leak chamber below the tank, to absorb liquid that may leak outof the tank 441 during use. The over-flow pads 445 a,b can be similarlyplaced parallel to one another and/or against the sides of the shell 431as described above with respect to pads 422 a,b.

FIG. 13 (which is a cross-section of the device 400 through the pads 422a,b and 445 a,b) shows the air flow path 777 in dotted lines relative tothe placement of the pads 442 a,b and 445 a,b. The air path 777 extendsalongside all of the pads 422 a,b without extending therethrough. Thatis, the pads 422 a,b and 445 a,b extend off-axis relative to the airpath 777 and do not interfere with user draw. However, the pads 422 a,band 445 a,b are positioned so that the air path 777 travels along,besides, and/or in contact with the pads 422 a,b and 445 a,b for anextended period of time so as to allow maximum absorption of liquid.

In use (i.e., when the user draws on the device), the device 400 can beheld horizontally with the width, w, in the vertical direction and thediameter, d, in the horizontal direction. As such, at least one of thepads 422 a,b and/or 445 a,b will be substantially horizontal while theuser draws on the device, ensuring that gravity will pull any moistureor particles down onto the lower pad 422 a,b and/or 445 a,b. Further,having two pads 422 a,b and/or 445 a,b advantageously ensures thatmoisture will be caught whether the user holds the device with pad 422 aor 445 a on top or 422 b or 445 b on top. This can both preventinterference with the electronics of the device and prevent the userfrom getting any liquid from the tank in his or her mouth when drawingon the device.

Referring to FIGS. 15A-15D, exemplary device 800 is similar to device400 (similar reference numbers are therefore used) except that itincludes a single plug 888 in the proximal section of the cartridge 801(i.e., as opposed to the two tank seals 604 a,b shown in FIG. 6D). Theplug 888 is configured to simultaneously seal both outlets of themouthpiece 403 while also sealing around the tube 408.

Although sets of absorbent pads are shown and described with respect tothe embodiments herein, only a single off-axis (i.e. “off air path”) padcan be used in each location. Likewise, more than two (e.g., 3, 4, 5, ormore) off-axis pads, such as strips of absorbent material, may be used.Similarly, only a single set of pads can be used.

In some embodiments, the absorbent pads can be located only in thecartridge area (i.e., in the disposable portion). In other embodiments,additional absorbent pads can also be used in the reusable portion ofthe device.

The wick for use with any of the embodiments herein can be large tohandle higher viscosity liquids (e.g., liquids with cannabinoids). Forexample, the wick can be greater than 1.5 mm in diameter, such asapproximately 2 mm in diameter.

Referring to FIG. 16, in some embodiments, the openings (also referredto as air inlets) 962 a,b to the cartridge 901 can include a protectiveannular ring 992 a,b or seal theraround that extends away from the innerwall of the cartridge 901. This ring can help prevent any spilled liquidfrom splashing into the inlets 962 a,b. This ring may be lip or ridgeprojecting into the overflow leak chamber, as shown in FIG. 16.

Referring still to FIG. 16, in some embodiments, the contacts 935 of thereusable portion 911 of the device 900 can be pin contacts while thecontacts 1035 of the cartridge 901 can be annular contacts or pinreceptacles configured to mate with the pins. Further, in someembodiments, pin receptacles 1035 can include spring-loaded wipingmechanisms on the inner diameter thereof. The spring-loaded wipingmechanisms can be configured to wipe the pins as they pass therethrough.As a result, any vapor residue on the pins can be removed to maintainthe proper electrical connection there between.

Power and Temperature Control

In any of the apparatuses described herein, the vaporizer apparatus maybe controlled so that the temperature used to vaporize the vaporizablematerial is maintained within a preset range (e.g., one or more presettemperatures as discussed above, within +/− a few degrees (e.g., +/−3°C., 2° C., 1° C., 0.5° C., etc.). In general, the microcontroller maycontrol the temperature of the resistive heater (e.g., resistive coil,etc.) based on a change in resistance due to temperature (e.g., TCR).For example, a heater may be any appropriate resistive heater, such as aresistive coil. The heater is typically coupled to the heater controllervia two or more connectors (electrically conductive wires or lines) sothat the heater controller applies power (e.g., from the power source)to the heater. The heater controller may include regulatory controllogic to regulate the temperature of the heater by adjusting the appliedpower. The heater controller may include a dedicated or general-purposeprocessor, circuitry, or the like and is generally connected to thepower source and may receive input from the power source to regulate theapplied power to the heater.

For example, any of the apparatuses described herein may include logicfor determining the temperature of the heater based on the TCR of theheating element (resistive coil), based on sensed resistance of thecoil. The resistance of the heater (e.g., a resistive heater) may bemeasured (R_(heater)) and the controller may use the known properties ofthe heater (e.g., the temperature coefficient of resistance) for theheater to determine the temperature of the heater. For example, theresistance of the heater may be detected by a detection circuitconnected at the electrical contacts that connect to the cartridge, andthis resistance compared to a target resistance, which is typically theresistance of the resistive heater at the target temperature. In somecases this resistance may be estimated from the resistance of theresistive hearing element at ambient temperature (baseline).

In some variations, a reference resistor (R_(reference)) may be used toset the target resistance. The ratio of the heater resistance to thereference resistance (R_(heater)/R_(reference)) is linearly related tothe temperature (above room temp) of the heater, and may be directlyconverted to a calibrated temperature. For example, a change intemperature of the heater relative to room temperature may be calculatedusing an expression such as (R_(heater)/R_(reference)−1)*(1/TCR), whereTCR is the temperature coefficient of resistivity for the heater. In oneexample, TCR for a particular device heater is 0.00014/° C. Indetermining the partial doses and doses described herein, thetemperature value used (e.g., the temperature of the vaporizablematerial during a dose interval, T_(i), described in more detail below)may refer to the unit less resistive ratio (e.g.,R_(heater)/R_(reference)) or it may refer to the normalized/correctedtemperature (e.g., in ° C.).

When controlling a vaporization device by comparing a measure resistanceof a resistive heater to a target resistance, the target resistance maybe initially calculated and may be factory preset and/or calibrated by auser-initiated event. For example, the target resistance of theresistive heater during operation of the apparatus may be set by thepercent change in baseline resistance plus the baseline resistance ofthe resistive heater, as will be described in more detail below. Asmentioned, the resistance of the heating element at ambient is thebaseline resistance. For example, the target resistance may be based onthe resistance of the resistive heater at an ambient temperature and atarget change in temperature of the resistive heater.

As mentioned above, the target resistance of the resistive heater may bebased on a target heating element temperature. Any of the apparatusesand methods for using them herein may include determining the targetresistance of the resistive heater based on a resistance of theresistive heater at ambient temperature and a percent change in aresistance of the resistive heater at an ambient temperature.

In any of the methods and apparatuses described herein, the resistanceof the resistive heater may be measured (using a resistive measurementcircuit) and compared to a target resistance by using a voltage divider.Alternatively or additionally any of the methods and apparatusesdescribed herein may compare a measured resistance of the resistiveheater to a target resistance using a Wheatstone bridge and therebyadjust the power to increase/decrease the applied power based on thiscomparison.

In any of the variations described herein, adjusting the applied powerto the resistive heater may comprise comparing the resistance (actualresistance) of the resistive heater to a target resistance using avoltage divider, Wheatstone bridge, amplified Wheatstone bridge, or RCcharge time circuit.

When using resistance and/or power applied to determine the temperatureof the apparatus and/or to control temperature for vaporization, theinventors have determined that there may be a surprising disparitybetween the actual temperature and that predetected or determined usingresistance of the heater alone. This problem because particularly acutewhen the distance between the heating element (e.g. resistive coil) andthe electrical input into the cartridge (the power contacts from thevaporizer base) is longer, or there is a change in the conductivematerial between the heater and the contacts, as shown in FIG. 15A.Where there is a change in the conductive material between the contacts,the electrical wiring and the resistive coil, thermoelectric effectsarising due to this change in electrical characteristics (resistance)may give rise to inaccuracies when determining the power applied.

In the exemplary cartridges described above, the heating coil isconnected to the electrical contacts by extension wires 1054, 1054′(see, e.g., FIG. 10B). Because the extension wires are differentmaterials, a voltage (EMF) may be generated at the junction between thedifferent electrical conductors when there is a temperature gradient.This thermoelectric effect may be referred to as the Seebeck effect, andmay generate a voltage that is based on the material properties of thedifferent conductors. In the variations described above, although theheating coil, extensions and wick are nearly symmetric, during normalusage there may be uneven temperatures across the three, developing atemperature gradient. This may result in an uneven voltage beinggenerated; this disparity may then lead to inaccuracies in controllingthe heater (applied power) and/or estimation of the temperature.

Although at any particular time, the effect may be relatively minor (andtherefore overlooked), the cumulative effect may lead to dramaticreductions in accuracy and temperature control; other systems mayattempt to avoid this problem by modifying the resistance of thematerial used for the resistive heater, requiring a larger power;although this may reduce the overall contribution of the offset EMFvoltage due to the thermoelectric property mismatch, it also requires alarger wattage and therefore battery (and resulting power) be applied.

Instead, any of the apparatuses described herein may include a precisionresistance measurement circuit to track resistance of the heatingelement (e.g., a coil made from resistive heating alloy wire) when notheating and heating to control the temperature of the coil based onchanges in coil resistance from room temperature to vaporizationtemperatures, as discussed above. For example, in some variations, themeasurement circuit is an amplified Wheatstone bridge where the heatingelement (when connected) is one half of one of the two voltage dividersin the Wheatstone bridge and the two divider voltages are inputs to adifferential op amp circuit. This control circuit may be modified asdescribed herein to account for the mismatch in thermoelectricproperties leading to the offset voltage.

Currently known resistance measurement systems typically use atwo-terminal sensing or four-terminal sensing circuit, and are prone tomeasurement error when the load to be measured is also a voltage sourceor has an additional unknown voltage applied to it. As just mentionedabove, in vaporizers that use resistive heating elements (often coils),extension leads are often used to route power to the heating elementwith minimal Joule heating and losses in the path between the heatingelement (where Joule heating is desired) and the voltage source (often abattery or power supply). For manufacturability, these extension leadsare often the only connection between the device (or contacts thatconnect to the device) and the heating element, so measurement of theresistance of the heating element invariably includes the resistance ofthe extension leads and measurement error arising from the mismatchedthermoelectric properties (Seebeck error). The heating element andextension leads (three conductors if considered individually) each havesome temperature gradient along their lengths, and this temperaturegradient generates an electromotive force (EMF, which is also ameasureable voltage when the conductor is open circuit) in eachconductor, which is E_(emf)=−S∇T, where S is the Seebeck coefficient ofthe conductor which depends heavily on the conductor material (but alsoon temperature of the conductor) and ∇T is the temperature gradientacross the material. Because ideal materials for the heating element andextension leads often have different Seebeck coefficients, and since thetemperatures at the two connection points between each extension leadand the heating element are likely to differ while heating (due toacceptable asymmetries in both heating element assembly and heattransferred from the heating element and extension leads that areexpected in a mass-produced product), there will be a net EMF across theextensions and heating element (seen as one load in any vaporizationsystem where one set of extension leads electrically connects theheating element to the device) which will skew the resistancemeasurement, making temperature control of the heating element usingmeasured resistance impossible without correction for this effect. Moregenerally, measured resistance of the heating element will be skewed bythe mismatched thermoelectric properties (e.g., the Seebeck effect)whenever there is a temperature difference between and materialtransition at the two heating element terminals where contacts orextensions are connected.

A simplified model of a heating element with two extension leads of thesame material is shown in FIG. 17. In this example, the heating elementand extension lead combination connects to the device at the open endsof the extension leads shown above, so the resistance measurement of theheating element is taken through the extension leads connecting to it.S1 and S3 are constant coefficients that depend on the materialproperties (Seebeck coefficients) of each of the two extension leadmaterials, and S2 is the Seebeck coefficient of the heating element. T1and T4 are temperatures at the ends of the extensions that electricallyconnect to the vaporization device. T2 and T3 are temperatures of theconnections between the extension leads and heating element (which maybe welds, crimps, solder joints, or other electrical connections). TheEMF, E_(net) is expected to skew the resistance measurement if E_(net)is non-zero. E_(net) from the Seebeck effect is expected to be:

E _(net) =−S1(T2−T1)−S2(T3−T2)−S3(T4−T3).

To illustrate how temperature differences between T2 and T3 can create anon-zero Enet, consider a further simplified model where temperatures atthe two open (as shown) ends of the conductive path are assumed to bethe same and close to the device temperature (T1=T4), which is anacceptable simplification in systems like ours where extensions connectto electrical contacts with large thermal mass at T1 and T4. Seebeckcoefficients for the two extensions are assumed to be the same since thetwo extension leads are of the same material (S1=S3). This reduces theabove expression to:

E _(net)=(S2−S1)(T2−T3)

From the above expression, if S2 and S1 are not equal (heating elementand extension leads have different Seebeck coefficients) and T2 and T3are not equal (non-zero net temp gradient across the two points whereheating element meets extensions), Enet will not be zero, and it willskew the resistance measurement taken by the device. For comparison, ifthere are no extension leads, EMF for the heating element alone can beconsidered:

E _(net) =S2(T2−T3)

When the heating element is connected directly to electrical contactsthat are large thermal masses, it is expected (and can be measured) thatT2 and T3 are very close and Seebeck effect introduces negligible errorin resistance measurement. In other systems where extension leads areused, the Seebeck effect will skew measured resistance, makingtemperature control impossible when Seebeck effect is not corrected for.

Additionally, some systems without extension leads may still see atemperature difference between T2 and T3 depending on the device andheating element assembly. If this temperature difference is significant,this effect will have to be corrected for if accurate resistancemeasurements is desired.

The simple model above with extension leads and heating element isprovided to illustrate the source of heating element EMF. In mostsystems there will be additional material transitions and temperaturegradients in each material in the resistance measurement path. Asdescribed below, a complete understanding or modeling of all materialtransitions and junction temperatures is not needed to correct for thiseffect. The heating element EMF (caused by the Seebeck effect) cansimply be measured and used to correct for the error it introduces inresistance measurements.

In a vaporization devices that uses measured heating element resistancefor temperature control of the heating element as described above,heating element EMF may also measure and used to control the powerapplied and/or estimates of temperature. The Seebeck effect may beobserved to be the main contributor to heating element EMF and is theonly known contributor to heating element EMF when no current (orconstant current) has been flowing through the element for some time.Measured heating element EMF can be used to correct for resistancemeasurement error caused by heating element EMF. The resistancemeasurement (skewed by Seebeck EMF) and the Seebeck EMF measurementtogether can be used to calculate accurate heating element resistances,which can be used to control average temperature of the heating element.

The effect of heating element EMF on the resistance measurement dependson the measurement circuit used. Heating element EMF will producemeasurement error in all known resistance measurement circuits, soheating element EMF may be separately measured to correct for the errorit causes in the resistance measurement. Sensitivity of the resistancemeasurement to heating element EMF may be understood so that measuredheating element EMF can be used correctly to calculate heating elementresistance from the two measurements taken. For example, the samedifferential op-amp used for the resistance measurement may also be usedfor the heating element EMF measurement. In the resistance measurement,the heating element may be powered through a voltage divider so thatthere is a measureable voltage across the heater which is comparedagainst a reference voltage or summed with other reference voltages andamplified by the differential op amp circuit. For heating element EMFmeasurement, no voltage is applied to the heating element, which allowsfor direct measurement of the EMF, which is compared against anotherclose reference voltage and amplified by the same differential op ampcircuit used for the resistance measurement.

Because the same amplification circuit may be used, the sensitivities ofboth the resistance measurement and the heating element EMF measurementto heating element EMF will be the same. The two measurements may thenbe used to calculate accurate heating element resistances, the rawreading difference between measured heating element EMFs when the deviceis heating and when device has not been heating for some time (note thatSeebeck EMF is 0 when heating element reaches thermal equilibrium indevice) and may be subtracted from the raw resistance measurementreading before other calculations are performed to yield heating elementresistance from corrected resistance measurement reading.

FIG. 18 illustrates one example of a measurement circuit that may beused as part of a vaporization apparatus. Operation of this circuit tocontrol heating element resistance while heating may be as follows (withsignal and component names below referencing signals and components fromschematic of FIG. 18); except for H+ 1821, all output boxes (1801, 1803,1805, 1807, 1809, 1811, 1813) are connected to the microcontroller,which is not shown; timing noted below is for one exemplary softwareimplementation and may be different or modified for differentimplementations). Heating element is connected between H+ 1821 and GND.

In FIG. 18, when device is heating, HEATER 1807 is driven with PWM toconnect VBAT to H+ 1821 through Q5 (powering heating element withbattery voltage) at some duty cycle to generate a known power in theheating element. When device is heating or in a wake state but notheating, every 3.9 ms (256 Hz measurement), HEATER 1807 is held off andHM_PWR 1805 is held on (powering differential op-amp circuit and voltagereferences required for measurements) for 268 μs so that either theheating element resistance or heating element EMF can be measured.Heating element resistance and EMF are each measured every 7.8 ms (eachis measured during every other measurement window). The first 200 us ofthis 268 μs measurement window is settling time for the op-amp output asseen by microcontroller (HM_OUT 1809) to stabilize. ADC is performed bythe microcontroller on HM_OUT 1809 between AREF_HM_OUT 1801 and GNDduring the last 68 μs of the measurement window. For the heating elementresistance measurement, HM_NEG_REF_EN 1803 is on to bias the heatingelement so that the voltage divider formed by R19 and the heatingelement can compared by the differential op amp circuit (comprised ofU5, R21, R22, R23, and R33) against a fixed voltage divider formed byR20 and R32, and some combination of R28, R29, and R30, which are usedto keep HM_OUT 1809 in a usable voltage range between AREF_HM_OUT 1801and GND for the range of heating element resistances that the devicemight see. HM_SCALE_0-2 1813 are either allowed to float (highimpedance) or connected to GND within the microcontroller to use R28-30to set the resistance measurement range of the circuit.

For the heating element EMF measurement, HM_NEG_REF_EN 1803 is off toallow H+ to float to a voltage that is the heating element EMF (relativeGND) and SEEBECK_REF_EN 1815 is on to make the fixed reference used bythe differential op amp circuit close enough to heating element EMF thatHM_OUT 1809 will be usable (will be between AREF_HM_OUT 1801 and GND)over the range of heating element EMFs expected when heating element isheated. Heating element EMF may be as high as +/−3 mV. The heatingelement EMF measurement circuit can measure between +/−5 mV. Themeasurement circuit yields a non-zero ADC value when device has not beenheating for some time and EMF is 0; this value is used to “zero” theheating element EMF readings when used in resistance calculations.Resistance calculations are as follows:

Heating Element Resistance=(resistance measurement ADC raw−(EMFmeasurement ADC raw−EMF measurement ADC zero))*resistance measurementsensitivity+resistance measurement offset

Resistance measurement sensitivities and offsets may depend on theactive resistance measurement scale (selected using HM_SCALE_0-2 1813)and may be solved for using circuit component values and then includedin the device (e.g., in the firmware, hardware or software of theapparatus).

Baseline resistance (measured resistance when heating element has notbeen heated for some time) may be used to calculate a target resistancethat corresponds to a target average heating element temperature basedon the heating element's resistivity vs. temperature curve.

The resistance measurement circuit may be a two-terminal sensingcircuit, as just discussed. In other variations, a four-terminal sensingmay be used to mitigate effects of variable contact resistance and traceor lead resistance in series with the heating element resistancemeasurement. Changing contact resistance and trace/lead resistance havea negligible impact on resistance measurement and temperature control,but these effects may be more pronounced in variations which have alower resistance heating element and different heating element anddevice assembly. In this case, a four-terminal (also known asfour-point) resistance and EMF measurement circuit, such as the oneshown in FIG. 19, may be used.

Operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 19 to control heating elementresistance while heating may be done as follows (with signal andcomponent names below referencing signals and components from schematicabove; signals 1903, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917) areconnected to the microcontroller, which is not shown; timing noted belowis exemplary only, and may be different). In FIG. 19, HI+ 1822 and HV+1826 connect directly to one terminal of the heating element, while HV−1828 and HI− 1824 connect directly to the other terminal of the heatingelement.

When device is heating, HEATER 1907 is driven with PWM to connect VBATto H+ 1822 through Q2 (powering heating element with battery voltage) atsome duty cycle to generate a known power in the heating element.

When device is heating or in a wake state but not heating, every 3.9 ms(256 Hz measurement), HEATER 197 is held off and HM_PWR 1905 is held on(powering the differential summing op-amp circuit and voltage referencesrequired for measurements) for 268 μs so that either the heating elementresistance or heating element EMF can be measured. Heating elementresistance and EMF are each measured every 7.8 ms (each is measuredduring every other measurement window). The first 200 μs of this 268 μsmeasurement window is settling time for the op-amp output as seen bymicrocontroller (HM_OUT 1915) to stabilize. ADC is performed by themicrocontroller on HM_OUT 1915 between AREF_HM_OUT 1913 and GND duringthe last 68 μs of the measurement window.

For the heating element resistance measurement, HM_WS_ISRC_EN 1903 is onto bias the heating element through R20 and HI+/− terminals so that thevoltage across HV+/− can measured by the differential summing op ampcircuit (comprised of U2, R19, R23-25, and optionally R10-14, R17, andR21). HM_WS_POS_REF_EN 1903 is on to sum GND through R19 with HV+through R25. Some combination of HM_SCALE_0-5 are on to sum HV− throughR24 with VBAT through some respective combination of R10-14 to keepHM_OUT 1915 in a usable voltage range between AREF_HM_OUT 1913 and GNDfor the range of heating element resistances that the device might see.

For the heating element EMF measurement, HM_WS_ISRC_EN 1903 is off toallow HV+ to float to a voltage that is the heating element EMF(relative HV−), HM_WS_POS_REF_EN 1909 is off to sum the R17, R21, R19voltage divider through R19 with HV+ through R25, and HM_SCALE0-4 1911are all off to provide no summing and only negative feedback at thenegative input of the op-amp. This differential summing configurationkeeps HM_OUT 1915 in a usable range (will be between AREF_HM_OUT 1913and GND) over the range of heating element EMFs expected when heatingelement is heated. With the values shown above, the heating element EMFmeasurement circuit can measure between +/−3.5 mV. The measurementcircuit yields a non-zero ADC value when device has not been heating forsome time and EMF is 0; this value is used to “zero” the heating elementEMF readings when used in resistance calculations.

Resistance calculations are as follows:

Heating Element Resistance=(resistance measurement ADC raw−(EMFmeasurement ADC raw−EMF measurement ADC zero))*resistance measurementsensitivity+resistance measurement offset Resistance measurementsensitivities and offsets depend on the active resistance measurementscale (selected using HM_SCALE_0-4 1911) and may be solved for usingcircuit component values and then included in the device.

Baseline resistance (measured resistance when heating element has notbeen heated for some time) may be used to calculate a target resistancethat corresponds to a target average heating element temperature basedon the heating element's resistivity vs. temperature curve.

As described above, the mismatch in thermoelectric properties and theresulting EM (e.g., the Seebeck EMF) has been found by the inventors tobe a potential source of resistance measurement error after data takenfrom controlled tests of vaporizer prototypes (e.g., using heatingelements with extension leads). A single heating element run with tempcontrol of the heating element (using measured heating elementresistance without correction for this EMF) may consistently run withmuch higher power when connected in one polarity vs. the other polarity.It was discovered that asymmetries in the heating element (in this casethe wick and coil) assembly could consistently produce hottertemperatures at one of the two heating element/extension lead junctions,resulting in consistent offset voltage at operating temperatures thatskewed the resistance measurement in one direction with the heatingelement connected in one polarity and in the other direction withheating element connected in the other polarity. Although measuredresistance was controlled during these tests, these devices were notaccurately controlling heating element temperatures because measurementswere skewed by this offset EMF resulting from the mismatch inthermoelectric properties of the components. With the correctiondescribed above, used to correct for the error in resistancemeasurement, it is observed that heating element polarity does not havean effect on the power required to hold the heating element at operatingtemperatures during controlled testing, which suggests that thiscorrection yields accurate calculated heating element resistances thatremove the effect of the offset EMF, providing much more accuratetemperature control of the heating element than when not corrected.

Thus, in any of the variations described herein, the apparatus mayinclude an offset correction circuit (also referred to as a Seebeckcorrection circuit) to correct for the offset voltage resulting from themismatch in thermoelectric properties between the resistive heating coiland the conductive connectors linking the resistive heating coil to thepower input (e.g., from the vaporizer base, including the vaporizerpower controller) in the cartridge. The offset correction circuit may belocated in the vaporizer base and connected between the couplingconnectors 595, 595′ to couple with the cartridge connectors anddetermine the offset voltage due to the mismatch in thermoelectricproperties of the heating (resistive) coil and the wires linking thecoil to the connector on the cartridge. Also described herein aremethods of correcting for the mismatch (Seebeck effect) inthermoelectric properties between the coil and the wires (electricalextensions) connecting to the electrical connectors.

Dose Monitoring

As mentioned above, any of the apparatuses described herein may also oralternatively detect and display the dose of material applied. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/960,259 (filed on Dec. 4, 2015, andpublished as US-2016-0157524-A1), herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, describes examples of methods for determining dose (andapparatuses including dose determination). Generally these methods maybe used to accurately calculate dose based on the power applied to theheater and the temperature of the heater (or a material in contact withthe heater) during an immediately before a small increment of time;total dose may be determined by summing these small increments up over adesired time range. These methods may be incorporated herein, and may bemade even more accurate by correcting the power applied as describedabove (e.g., accounting for the offset EMF due to the Seebeck effect).

Alternatively or additionally, described herein are methods andapparatuses that may provide a rough approximation of dose based on thepower applied over time to vaporize the material within the cartridge.This may be referred to herein as the consumption (of the vaporizablematerial in the cartridge, an indication of consumption) of thecartridge or vaporizable material, or the like. In general, theapparatus may aggregate the power during operation of the apparatus(e.g., the power applied over time during a puff/inhalation and/or thepower applied over this time multiplied times the duration of theinhalation).

The apparatus may further provide an output of the amount ofconsumption. This output may be, in particular, a qualitativeapproximation. For example, the output may be incrementally increasingthe number, intensity and/or color of one or more LEDs on the surface ofthe apparatus. For example, in this case, the consumption amount (dose)is not an absolute amount, but is an indicator or readout of the powerapplied to vaporize the material (power applied to the coils) over time.In FIG. 9C, for example, when the user first installs a cartridge andthe apparatus is set up to display consumption/dose, the four LEDS 897may initially be unlit or lit to the neutral color (e.g., white). As theuser draws on the device and vaporizes the material within thecartridge, the number of LEDS illuminated may be increased and theintensity and/or color of illumination may be increased to indicateincreasing dosage or consumption; for example the calculation of powerapplied over time may determine based on a number or predeterminedincrements, whether to increase the number of illuminated LEDS of aparticular color and/or intensity, to change color and/or intensity,etc.

The accumulated dose may be reset manually (e.g., using an app, shakingthe device, etc.) or by removing the cartridge. Alternatively oradditionally to the qualitative output described above, a quantitativeestimate based on the power may be displayed or output to a remoteprocessor (e.g. smartphone, etc.).

Thermocouple as Heater

In any of the apparatuses described herein, the heater may be configuredas a thermocouple junction. See, e.g., FIGS. 20A and 20B. Thus, athermocouple junction (comprising materials having dissimilarthermoelectric properties) may be used to measure temperature at a pointalong the heater coil. As discussed above, this may allow an apparatusto resistively determine temperature along the heater coil using thethermoelectric properties described above. Thus, similar to what isdescribed above, the heating element performs both as a heater and atemperature sensor. For example, a resistive heater may comprised of twodissimilar conductors (e.g., stainless steel and titanium) weldedtogether, as shown in FIG. 20A. When the heater (heating coil) heats up,the dissimilar material will be heated differentially, resulting in atemperature gradient and a resulting offset voltage (EMF), due to theSeebeck effect discussed above, at the junction of the two dissimilarmaterials. This effect may be used to determine the temperature at thatjunction (whereas typically, we determine the average temperature of theentire heater by using TCR, temperature coefficient of resistance, asalso discussed above.

The Seebeck effect also occurs at the junction between the heater endpoles and passive electrical conduits. Although the correction circuitsdiscussed above are aimed at correcting for the effect, it may also bepossible to take advantage of the effect for a more localizedtemperature measurement. Compare, FIG. 20B to FIG. 20A, for example. InFIG. 20A, the junction is located in the middle of the heating element,and determining the offset voltage in this case, which is based on thetemperature, may allow accurate temperature determination. Thisembodiment may be particularly relevant for a convection vaporizer,where you likely have a (relatively) large heater and you care about thetemperature at just the air outlet end.

In vaporization systems where the heating element is connected to thedevice through extension leads, if Seebeck coefficients are known forboth materials, the measured Seebeck EMF can be used to determine thenet temperature gradient across the heating element. With some modeling,this measurement could be used to approximately control maximum heatingelement temperature instead of or in addition to average heating elementtemperature. This measurement can also be used to perform qualitycontrol where the heating element assembly is manufactured. Invaporization systems where the heating element is connected to thedevice through extension leads and the heating element is used toprimarily heat air, if Seebeck coefficients are known for bothmaterials, Seebeck EMF can be used to determine the net temperaturegradient across the heating element, which with a known air flow pathand thermal modeling of the system can be used to predict average airtemperature at some point down-stream of the heating element. Asmentioned above, this may be particularly advantageous in convection(hot-air) vaporization systems as two measurements (resistance andSeebeck EMF) taken from the actuator can allow for accurate temperaturecontrol of air flowing from the outlet of the heating element withoutadditional sensors in the air path or connected to the heating element.

As shown in FIG. 20A, the Seebeck effect alone or the Seebeck effect inconjunction with resistance measurement can be used for temperaturecontrol of a heating element that has a material transition (junction)at the position where temperature is to be controlled. This isessentially creating a thermocouple out of resistive heating alloys sothat the Seebeck EMF can be measured in order to control temperature atthe hot junction of the thermocouple resistive heater. The junctioncould be positioned where the heating element is expected to be hottestto control maximum temperature of the heating element. The controlalgorithm could use a target average temperature of the heating element(calculated using resistance and EMF measurements) as well as a maximumacceptable max temperature of the heating element (calculated using justthe EMF measurement). A device that knows both the average temperatureof the heating element and the maximum temperature of the heatingelement could know more about the temperature gradient along the heatingelement and be better at predicting mass of material vaporized whileheating than a device that only knows either maximum or average heatingelement temperature (device knowing precise mass of material vaporizedis critical for dose-control in vaporizers). If extensions are used insuch a system, they could be the same material as the intended heatingelement but much larger gauge for reduced losses in the extensions.Alternatively, extensions with Seebeck coefficients that are verysimilar to the Seebeck coefficients of the two heating element sectionscould be used so that Seebeck EMF is still usable for temp control ofthe hot junction (small contribution of heating element/extensionjunctions to net Seebeck EMF).

Vaporizers without Cartridges

Any of the features described herein may be incorporated into avaporizer apparatus that does not require the uses of a separate (e.g.,removable cartridge), including vaporizer apparatuses such as loose-leafvaporizer apparatuses.

Such apparatuses are described, for example, in each of the followingapplications, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety: U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/837,438, filed on Mar. 15, 2013,Publication No. US 2013-0312742 A1; U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/166,001, filed on May 26, 2016, Publication No. US 2016-0262459 A1;U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/581,666, filed on Dec. 23, 2014,Publication No. US 2015-0208729 A1; U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/053,927, filed on Feb. 25, 2016, Publication No. US 2016-0174611 A1;U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/257,748, filed on Sep. 6, 2016; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/257,760, filed on Sep. 6, 2016,Publication No. US 2016-0374399 A1; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/257,768, filed on Sep. 6, 2016, Publication No. US 2016-0366947 A1.

For example such a device may include preset and allow the user to entertemp set mode by holding down on a button (on or under the mouthpiece)for >0.6 seconds. Pressing the button again cycles through the 4+1presets. To exit temp set, again hold the button for >0.6 sec. Thepresets may be, e.g., : 180 C, 193 C, 204 C, 216 C.

Any of the apparatuses described herein may include haptic feedback thatmay include distinct profiles for different events: For example:

/-\—trapezoid—power on, and Bluetooth connect

∥—quick click—manual power off, and Bluetooth disconnect

|⁻| |⁻|—2 long clicks—temp reached

|⁻|—1 long click—entered low temp standby, and auto shutoff

Also the user may change the intensity of these envelopes via the app.

Although the disclosure, including the figures, described herein maydescribed and/or exemplify these different variations separately, itshould be understood that all or some, or components of them, may becombined.

Although various illustrative embodiments are described above, any of anumber of changes may be made to various embodiments without departingfrom the scope of the invention as described by the claims. For example,the order in which various described method steps are performed mayoften be changed in alternative embodiments, and in other alternativeembodiments one or more method steps may be skipped altogether. Optionalfeatures of various device and system embodiments may be included insome embodiments and not in others. Therefore, the foregoing descriptionis provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should not beinterpreted to limit the scope of the invention as it is set forth inthe claims.

When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” anotherfeature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or elementor intervening features and/or elements may also be present. Incontrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directlyon” another feature or element, there are no intervening features orelements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature orelement is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” toanother feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached orcoupled to the other feature or element or intervening features orelements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element isreferred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or“directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are nointervening features or elements present. Although described or shownwith respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so describedor shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated bythose of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature thatis disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap orunderlie the adjacent feature.

Terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.For example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification,specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may beabbreviated as “/”.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”,“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in thefigures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements orfeatures. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both anorientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms“upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are usedherein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicatedotherwise.

Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describevarious features/elements (including steps), these features/elementsshould not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicatesotherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/elementfrom another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussedbelow could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a secondfeature/element discussed below could be termed a first feature/elementwithout departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless thecontext requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as“comprises” and “comprising” means various components can be co-jointlyemployed in the methods and articles (e.g., compositions and apparatusesincluding device and methods). For example, the term “comprising” willbe understood to imply the inclusion of any stated elements or steps butnot the exclusion of any other elements or steps.

As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in theexamples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may beread as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if theterm does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” or “approximately”may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate thatthe value and/or position described is within a reasonable expectedrange of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may havea value that is +/−0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−1%of the stated value (or range of values), +/−2% of the stated value (orrange of values), +/−5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−10%of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical valuesgiven herein should also be understood to include about or approximatelythat value, unless the context indicates otherwise.

The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way ofillustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which thesubject matter may be practiced. As mentioned, other embodiments may beutilized and derived there from, such that structural and logicalsubstitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof this disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter maybe referred to herein individually or collectively by the term“invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarilylimit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventiveconcept, if more than one is, in fact, disclosed. Thus, althoughspecific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

1-30. (canceled)
 31. A vaporizer device comprising: a cartridgecomprising: a mouthpiece configured to deliver an aerosol comprising avaporizable material to a user, the mouthpiece disposed at a first endof the cartridge; a first electrical contact disposed at a second end ofthe cartridge opposite the first end; a second electrical contactdisposed at the second end; a reservoir configured to contain thevaporizable material; an atomizer configured to heat the vaporizablematerial; a first cartridge air inlet disposed at the second end andadjacent to the first electrical contact; and a second cartridge airinlet disposed at the second end and adjacent to the second electricalcontact; wherein the first cartridge air inlet and the second cartridgeair inlet are configured to deliver air to the atomizer; and a vaporizerbody comprising: a cartridge receiver configured to insertably receivethe cartridge, the cartridge receiver comprising a base end; a firstbase connector configured to engage with the first electrical contact,the first electrical contact disposed proximate to the base end when thecartridge is insertably received in the cartridge receiver region; asecond base connector configured to engage with the second electricalcontact, the first electrical contact disposed proximate to the base endwhen the cartridge is insertably received in the cartridge receiverregion; a first body air inlet defining a first opening in a first sideof the vaporizer body; and a second body air inlet defining a secondopening in a second side of the vaporizer body opposite the first side;wherein the cartridge and the vaporizer body defines an air flow pathcomprising: the first body air inlet and the second body air inlet; aregion between the second end of the cartridge and the base end of thecartridge receiver; the first cartridge air inlet and the secondcartridge air inlet; and a cannula extending between the atomizer andthe mouthpiece through the reservoir.
 32. The vaporizer device of claim31, wherein the first body air inlet and the second body air inlet arealigned with the region between the second end of the cartridge and thebase end of the cartridge receiver.
 33. The vaporizer device of claim31, wherein the cartridge is configured to be secured at least partiallywithin the vaporizer body via a friction fitting.
 34. The vaporizerdevice of claim 33, wherein the friction fitting is defined by a ridgeon the cartridge and a complimentary region within the cartridgereceiver of the vaporizer body.
 35. The vaporizer device of claim 31,wherein the cartridge further comprises: an overflow leak chamber formedbetween the reservoir and the second end; and one or more absorbent padspositioned within the overflow leak chamber, the one or more absorbentpads positioned off-axis relative to the air flow path through theoverflow leak chamber.
 36. The vaporizer device of claim 35, wherein theair flow path further comprises the overflow leak chamber.
 37. Thevaporizer device of claim 31, wherein the vaporizer body furthercomprises: a pressure sensor configured to detect a draw on themouthpiece to activate the vaporizer body; and a channel extending fromthe base end of the cartridge receiver to the pressure sensor.
 38. Thevaporizer device of claim 31, wherein the first electrical contact andthe second electrical contact each comprises a comprise pin receptacles.39. The vaporizer device of claim 31, wherein the atomizer extendsacross the air flow path in a transverse direction.
 40. A vaporizerdevice comprising: a cartridge comprising: a first electrical contactdisposed at an insertion end of the cartridge; a second electricalcontact disposed at the insertion end; a reservoir configured to containa vaporizable material; an atomizer configured to heat the vaporizablematerial contained within the reservoir; a first cartridge air inletdisposed at the insertion end; and a second cartridge air inlet disposedat the insertion end, wherein air is configured to be delivered to theatomizer through the first cartridge air inlet and the second cartridgeair inlet; and a vaporizer body comprising: a cartridge receiverconfigured to insertably receive the cartridge, the cartridge receivercomprising a base end configured to face the insertion end of thecartridge, a first body air inlet defining a first opening in a firstside of the vaporizer body; and a second body air inlet defining asecond opening in a second side of the vaporizer body opposite the firstside; wherein the cartridge and the vaporizer body define an air flowpath comprising: the first body air inlet and the second body air inlet;a region between the insertion end of the cartridge and the base end ofthe cartridge receiver; the first cartridge air inlet and the secondcartridge air inlet; and a cannula extending from the atomizer to anoutlet of the cartridge through the reservoir.
 41. The vaporizer deviceof claim 40, wherein the first body air inlet and the second body airinlet are aligned with the region between the insertion end of thecartridge and the base end of the cartridge receiver.
 42. The vaporizerdevice of claim 40, wherein the cartridge is configured to be secured atleast partially within the vaporizer body via a friction fitting. 43.The vaporizer device of claim 42, wherein the friction fitting isdefined by a ridge on the cartridge and a complimentary region withinthe cartridge receiver of the vaporizer body.
 44. The vaporizer deviceof claim 40, wherein the cartridge further comprises: an overflow leakchamber formed between the reservoir and the insertion end; and one ormore absorbent pads positioned within the overflow leak chamber, the oneor more absorbent pads positioned off-axis relative to the air flow paththrough the overflow leak chamber.
 45. The vaporizer device of claim 44,wherein the air flow path further comprises the overflow leak chamber.46. The vaporizer device of claim 40, wherein the vaporizer body furthercomprises: a pressure sensor configured to detect a draw on thecartridge to activate the vaporizer body; and a channel extending fromthe base end of the cartridge receiver to the pressure sensor.
 47. Thevaporizer device of claim 40, wherein the first electrical contact andthe second electrical contact each comprises a comprise pin receptacles.48. The vaporizer device of claim 40, wherein the atomizer extendsacross the air flow path in a transverse direction.